Burbank Planner Resigns Over Rejection of His Nominee

Burbank Planning Board Commissioner Paul Downing resigned this week, saying he was frustrated with the City Council's refusal to consider his nominee to fill a vacancy on the board.

The resignation from the Planning Board was the second in a month and the third in two months. Graham Ritchie, the previous chairman of the board, resigned because of business obligations.

Gary Yamada resigned in April, saying he was too "burned out" to continue.

Downing, 49, had been acting chairman of the board since Ritchie's resignation. He said Council members Mary Lou Howard and Michael R. Hastings refused to consider Tim Milner, whom he had nominated to replace Ritchie.

Hastings said he did consider Milner. The council appointed Herbert Vincent, a real estate agent, to fill the vacancy.